Sign

ABSTRACT

A replaceable letter sign wherein a vertical translucent backing plate has a translucent or transparent horizontal rail on which the letter rests. Each letter has a slot approximately midway between the top and bottom of the letter, which slot is of a width sufficient to embrace the vertical extent of the rail and then drop on the rail so that the letter extends both above and below the rail.

United States Patent Goodman May 20, 1975 [541 SIGN FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS Inventorr Jack Goodman, 5540 Harrison 612,258 11/1948 United Kingdom 40 140 St., Chicago, Ill. 60604 22 Filed; Jam 12 1971 Primary ExaminerRobert W. Michell Assistant ExaminerWenceslao J. Contreras [21] Appl' 105,907 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Morris Spector [52] US. Cl. 40/142 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. G09f 7/02 A re placeable letter sign WhCI'ClIl a vertical translucent [58] Field of Search 40/140, 142, 132 backing plate has a translucent or transparent horizom f C, tal rail on which the letter rests. Each letter has a slot [5 6] Re erences approximately midway between the top and bottom of UNlTED A S PATENTS the letter, which slot is of a width sufficient to eml,748,984 3/1930 Hogan 40/140 brace the vertical extent of the rail and then drop on 2,598,890 6/1952 Cisi et al..... the rail so that the letter extends both above and 2,892,277 6/1959 Wagner below the rail, 3,022,591 2/1962 Faulkner..... o 3,059,366 10/1962 Mack 40/140 1 Clalm, 5 Drawing Figures Pmmgmmmm INVENTOR JACK GOODMAN SIGN This invention relates to letters for use on replaceable letter signs, particularly outdoor signs, and to such signs.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a letter mounting arrangement for signs of the above type whereby the letters may be easily mounted or removed and are not easily displaced by external forces, such as wind, vibration, etc.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide letters for such signs.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved mounting rail for the letters of such signs.

The attainment of the above and further objects of this invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

IN THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a sign em bodying the present invention;

Flg. 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sections taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and showing the letter as it is being placed on the sign and in its final position, respectively; and

FIG. 5 is an enlargement of a portion of FIG. 4.

In the specification, like reference numerals designate like parts throughout.

The sign illustrated comprises a translucent backing plate 1 of sufficient strength and durability for the intended purposes. One intended use is for replaceable positioning in a sign structure such as a marquee of a theater where it is illuminated by backing lights 3. The

plate 1 has a horizontal letter-supporting rail 2, secured thereto in any desired manner as, for instance, by being cemented thereto. The rail 2 is preferably made of plastic and is preferably light pervious. It is preferably of the same color as the plate 1, or it may be a clear transparent color.

The rail 2 is of an L shape in cross section and has a base 6 that is secured to the plate 1, and an upstanding stem 7. Between stem 7 and the backing plate 1, there is a lengthwise extending groove 9 of adequate width for receiving, and ultimately holding, a portion of a re movable letter that is to be mounted thereon.

The letter mounted on the sign, as herein designated, is the letter P. The letter may be made of the same material as the backing plate 1 or of a different material. It may be opaque instead of translucent, and is of a different color than the backing material. The stem 12 of the P has an L shaped slot 14 extending horizontally across the entire back thereof, adapted to embrace the rail, and another portion of the P has a similar slot 15 therein at the same level and for the same purpose. The L shaped slot includes a horizontal slot portion 16 that opens at the rear of the letter and a substantially vertical slot portion 17 communicating therewith, both extending the full width of the letter and thus leaving a stem or upper lip portion 19, the bottom 21 of which is spaced from the bottom of 20 of the slot 16 by an amount slightly greater than the height of the rail 2 so that the opening between 20 and 21 is just sufficient to permit that portion of the slot to embrace the rail 2. At this time the surface 21 is immediately below the bottom of the rail and the surface 20 is immediately above the top of the rail. The letter may then be lowered to bring the stem 19 into the groove 9. The letter may be slid horizontally along the rail to bring it into its proper position on the rail.

In the preferred arrangement, the thickness of the slot is tapered so that the distance between the vertical inner wall 24 of the lip 19 and the forward slot wall 26 progressively increases, but very slightly, downwardly from the top 27 of the slot. As a-result, Whenthe' letter is lowered to the position of FIG. 5, it ultimately wedges with the stem 7 of the rail to hold the letter in place.

The letter is a hollow shell open at the back. The material of the letter is sufficiently resilient to permit flexing thereof into a position wedging with the rail 7 as hereinabove described. When the operator releases the letter, it remains in the position to which it has been moved. It does not tend to rise under the resilient pressure between the letter and the rail because the angle of the wedging surfaces with respect to the direction of withdrawal movement of the letter is so small that the friction forces resisting such movement and holding the letter in position are always greater than the upward forces produced by the resilient pressure. If it is decided to withdraw the letter from the backing plate, the operator need only push the letter upwardly a very small amount, thus releasing the spring tension that holds the letter in place.

Any wind force that may tend to push the letter upwardly, and succeeds, will cause the stem 19 of the let ter to ride rather snuggly in the space between the backing plate and the stem 7 of the rail so that when the wind force abates the letter tends to drop back into the groove 9 rather than move outwardly. The upward movement of the letter towards its removal position is guided by the stem 19 sliding against the inner surface of the stem of the rail. This continues until the surface 20 reaches the base 6, during which time the wind force cannot produce any appreciable movement of the letter in a direction away from the plate 1. Further upward movement of the letter, due to the wind force, is prevented by abutment of the surface 20 with the bottom of the rail. The direction of movement of the letter at the instant of engagement of these two surfaces had no component directed outwardly of the plate 1. The upward movement of the letter thus stops and the letter remains in its upper position until the upward wind force abates, whereupon the letter then drops back into position.

The precise construction herein shown is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention.

What is considered new and sought to be considered Letters Patent is:

l. A sign having a horizontal letter supporting rail, a letter for said rail, said letter having an L shaped mounting slot across the back thereof for the full width of the letter, with the horizontal portion of the L of the slot opening at and facing the rear of the letter and communicating with the vertical portion of the slot which is located forwardly at the rear end of the letter to define a stem between the rear edge of the vertical portion of the slot and the rear edge of the letter, the distance between the bottom of the stern and the bottom of the horizontal portion of the slot being sufficient to permit the mounting of the letter in a vertical position in front of the letter-supporting sign rail with the slot straddling the base and the top of the rail, and with the stem of the letter in a position at the rear of the rail,

3 4 and to permit lowering of the letter onto the rail to the rear toward the front of the letter to cause the slot bring the Opposite Sides of those Parts of the letter that portion of the letter to wedge with the rail as the letter Ff the verticin PQ of the shaped Slot into reaches its lowermost position, and the center of the smons on opposite sides of the rail, at least one of the mcumingslot from the p to the bottom thereof being opposite sides of the vertical portion of the L of the slot 5 bearing against the side of the rail to restrict upward movement of the letter from the rail to a vertical direction, the slot being wedge shaped in a direction from approximately midway between the top and the bottom of the letter. 

1. A sign having a horizontal letter supporting rail, a letter for said rail, said letter having an L shaped mounting slot across the back thereof for the full width of the letter, with the horizontal portion of the L of the slot opening at and facing the rear of the letter and communicating with the vertical portion of the slot which is located forwardly at the rear end of the letter to define a stem between the rear edge of the vertical portion of the slot and the rear edge of the letter, the distance between the bottom of the stem and the bottom of the horizontal portion of the slot being sufficient to permit the mounting of the letter in a vertical position in front of the lettersupporting sign rail with the slot straddling the base and the top of the rail, and with the stem of the letter in a position at the rear of the rail, and to permit lowering of the letter onto the rail to bring the opposite sides of those parts of the letter that define the vertical portion of the L shaped slot into positions on opposite sides of the rail, at least one of the opposite sides of the verticaL portion of the L of the slot bearing against the side of the rail to restrict upward movement of the letter from the rail to a vertical direction, the slot being wedge shaped in a direction from the rear toward the front of the letter to cause the slot portion of the letter to wedge with the rail as the letter reaches its lowermost position, and the center of the mounting slot from the top to the bottom thereof being approximately midway between the top and the bottom of the letter. 